Boeing advances 777-X plans

Following the recent revelation that Boeing may push forward the schedule of its new B777-X, the US planemaker has now taken another major step towards the aircraft’s development.

Boeing’s vice president of marketing, Randy Tinseth, told Bloomberg in an interview last week that the company may prioritise the new B777-X ahead of the stretched version of the Dreamliner, the B787-10. And now Boeing has announced a new partnership with GE that will see the company become Boeing’s engine partner for the B777-X project.

“This decision to work with GE going forward reflects the best match to the development programme, schedule and airplane performance,” said Bob Feldmann, vice president and general manager of the B777X programme. “We are studying airplane improvements that will extend today’s 777 efficiencies and reliability for the next two decades or longer, and the engines are a significant part of that effort. Our focus is on providing the most competitive offering to our customers in the large twin aisle market.”

Feldman added that Boeing is “aggressively moving forward” with the B777-X plan, with the next stage possible seeing the aircraft being offered to customers.

As fuel-efficient replacements for the existing B777-200 and B777-300 aircraft, the B777-8X and B777-9X would seat approximately 350 and 400 passengers respectively. The first B777-X was originally scheduled to enter commercial service by the end of the decade, but the recent developments could see the plan fast-tracked.